Vacuum cleaner



swt. 2o, 193s. D. M. Dow E; AL 2,130,635

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 1.0, 1937 3 SheeCS-SheelI l Sept. 20, 1938. D. M. Dow n A1. 2,130,635

VACUUM CLEANER Sept. 20, 1.938. D. M. Dow Er A. 2,130,635 VACUUM CLEANER Filed Sept. 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N m r ,0.6 \\\\1 qm, 0% V l e O O \O www M Q m W www a m m a N w Patented Sept. 20, 1,938 v Dewey M. Dow,

H. Burmeister,

Donald L. Boyd, and vFrederick Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air- Way Electric' Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a" corporation of Delaware Application September 10, 1937, Serial No. .163,264

.4 Claims.

. This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and' more particularly relates -to a brush adapted to be used in connection with a wand type cleaner and adapted to be usedeither as a-wall brush. or as a floor tool. e

An object of the invention is to provide cleaning eiliciency in'a wand type floor and wall brush.

Another object of theinvention is to provide means to convert the door tool of anordinary il) suction type nozzle to a combination brush` and.

suction type nozzle. l

Another objectof the invention is to provide i a vacuum cleaner brush constructionl in which' the unit suctionis increased over those provided in prior art devices. y

Further. objectsof the invention will appear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains upon a reading of the specification which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings sets forth the preferred embodiment of the Invention and modifications thereof. It is to be distinctly understood that the disclosures set i'orth Fig. 2 shows a side view of the brush attached i to the cleaner nozzle;

Fig. 3 'shows a variation of the brush construction from thatshown in'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows an end view of 'the structure set forth in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5-shows one of the suction tube inserts adapted to be inserted in the brush back;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on 'the line 6 6 of Figs. l and 4;

Figs. '1, 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 6 but show modifications of the invention;

Fig. 'la is a partial view similar to Fig. 7 show- Ing a variation in the construction of aA holding plate.'

The preferred embodiment ofthe invention set forth in Figs. 1, 2, 4. and 6 showsa brush and suction tool assembly in which numeral I,

denotes a brush-back or supporting element made preferably of some metallic substance and preferably of a die cast construction, although a pressed metal construction may be substituted if desired. -The brushback element I is capable of attachment to the'nozzle of the cleaner and' isof such a size and shape that the exterior dimensions of the nozzle and brush back are identical. A U, In order to provide a strong unit suction on a given area of surface being cleaned there is pro-V vided in the iloor'tool and brush assembly a series of flattened tubular members or inserts 3 that are fitted into correspondingly shapedand sized apertures in the brushback. The inserts are maintained in position by a backing plate IB which has apertures therein corresponding-insize and position to the apertures provided in the inserts 3. Attentionis called to the fact" that each of the inserts 3 has ahead element or collar I4 which overlays or' rests upon the top of the bristle holder I, Fig. 6, as shown. In order to retain. the inserts 3 in position a plate I6 is provided whichclosely ts the interior4 ofthe brush'back. The lip agitators I2, 'hereinafter described in more detail are'normally assembled onto walls 5 of the nozzle when it is used as a straight suction tool. When the. brush is assembled or attached to the nozzle, the agitators I2, apply a pressure to plate I`6. thereby holdingthe inserts firmly in position.

v.Arranged in the brush-hackv I is a series of .i

bristles preferably made up in the form of tufts vthat are assembled into the backing element and Aretained therein by wire elementi I. The tufts are drawn up into the aperture orslot Ib, shown in Fig. 6. The Wire elements or other suitable securing means II are then pressed down against the top.surface of the backing element I 'and soldered or otherwise permanently andrigidly secured or integrated thereto. It is obvious from the fact that thebrushes are drawn up rmly and tightly into the slot Ib that they thereby rigidly maintain the brushes in backing element.

,The brush bristles or tufts 2` are arranged in rows extending obliquely across the face of the brush back that is lowermost and adjacent tothe surface being cleaned, The rows 2 of tufts `or bristles extend to within very short distances of the front and rear edges of the brush back. -Some of the rows of brushes are shown 'as extending across one end portion of the"brush back in one direction of obliqueness and the rows at the4 opposite end portion of the brush back extend at substantially right angles to the rows of the first group or transversely thereto. It Will be understood howeverthat all rows of bristles or tufts may extendlin the same direction without impairing the effectiveness of the device. The

position in the suction inlets 3 are somewhat elongated and are disposed with their longest dimensions in parallel relation to the rows so that the cleaning effectiveness may be maximum. The rows of bristles extending to the edge of the brush back form between parallel rows of bristles or tufts dust receiving passageways A. Dust, dirt and grit ly ing upon a floor enter-thesepassageways and byreasonof the brush action, dirt that engages side A will be urged under the suction inlet. This action takes place because the rows of bristles extend obliquely across the direction of travel of the brush back and bristles. When'movement is in the opposite direction, side A will be eil'ective. It will be apparent. that irrespective of the means of retaining elements 8 and 9. The element 8, which is in the form of a distended U-shaped element is secured to the nozzle wall by means of screws or rivets 8a, or the element 9 may be spot-welded to the nozzle. The element 9 is a spring adapted to be actuated 'by finger pressure at the end thereof and it has a lug, hook, or projection Sa-that is capable of locking itself above the element I8 and thereby firmly engaging the brush-back against the lower portion of the nozzle head.

A*back by means'of a screw or rivet I0. The brush is detached from the nozzle by pressing element 9 thereby releasing lug 9a from the element l and thus permitting the brush to be disassembled from the nozzle proper.

The nozzle consists of a housing 'l to which is secured a tube 6, to which a tubular wand is secured, preferably welded in order to enhance the maneuverability of the floor tool. As se`t forth above there is assembled within the floor tool an agitator I2, the details of which are not shown but are somewhat similar to those shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,980,438; and is removably held in the nozzle by means of a spring clip I3 that is riveted or screwed by means II to the nozzle wall 5. It is evident from the above that a simplified brush construction has been provided in which the inserts, should they` become worn, are capable-of ready replacement and thereby obviate the necessity of replacing the entire brush when one or more of the tubes or inserts3 have become worn. Further attention is invited to the fact that the brush bristles extend below the ends of Vthe inserts or tubes 3 an appreciable distance therebyy enabling `the brushes to accomplish to the fullest extenttheir intended purpose, and yet at the same time enabling the suction produced by -the/cleaner to withdraw from the surface underdisassembly so that the ordinary user, operator,

or housewife can avail herself of the usefulness and utility of the brush or she may use the secured into the housing by rivets and screws I'I.

The same type of attaching elements 8, 9, and 9a ment.

Particular attention is invited to the fact in this brush assembly that lthe plate I constitutingY the brush-back is pressed out or counterbored as at I8 to receive the inserts or tubes 3a that are provided. The purpose of this pressing out or counterboringds to leave thetop surface of the brush-back smooth and to decrease the overall height of the combined nozzle and brush assembly. 'I'he shoulder or collar I4 of the insert as shown in Fig. 7 is fitted into the pressed out or counterbored opening Il and on the top of collar I4 there is assembled the plate I6 which is in direct contact with the top of the brush-back.

Further attention is invited to the means for increasing the rigidity or stiffness of the brush bristles. To this end there is provided an increased length of channel opening by means of extensions Ia proirided on the brush-back. These extensions extend below the bottom surface of the brush-back and by means .thereof a smaller length of brush bristles is exposed and extended below the extension Ia. The result of this construction is that the brush tuft or brush insert is thereby increased in stiffness or vrigidity and enables the brush to more quickly and efficiently loosen the grit, dust, and dirt that normally is embedded and retained in the surface undergoing cleaning treatment. The brush tufts are retained in position and in the brush- -are provided for ease of attachment and detach back by means that are described in connection the plate I8 is provided with an extension 42 integral with I6 which ilts snugly within insert 3. When therefore plate I6A is inserted in the brush-back the portion 42 will nt within the insert to firmly and positively retain head I4 on orin elementV I in position andprevent the buckling of the insert and make possible its consequent removal. This form of plate is readily exchangeable for the plate 'I6 of Fig. 6 and inv fact may be used in any form in which the inserts are retained in the brush-back by means of an auxiliary plate. l

A further modification of the brush assembly is set forth in Fig. 8. The objects and'purposes of this shape o f construction are to still further decrease .the over-all height of the brush and to this end there is provided a modified brushback. rIfhe general exterior shape of this'brushback is identical to the brush-back I disclosed and described in connection with Fig. 6. The mode of brush assembly or the way the brush tufts are locked` into the `brush-back is. likewise identical. The extensions. Ia corresponding to the extensions lIa. of Fig. 'I are provided for stiffening the brush tufts extending therefrom. These extensions are preferable although not actually necessary. The same nozzle 1 is shown having disposed therein an agitator of the type described in Patent No. 1,980,438, and retained in the nozzle by means of spring clip I3 shown riveted or screwed by means I1 or otherwise secured to the wall 1 of the nozzle. The same means and mechanism for retaining the brushback against the nozzle -1 by means of elements 8, 9, and 9a, as set forth, are employed.

A different type of insert construction is employed in this modification as disclosed in sectionin Fig. 8. Particular attention is invited to the fact that the backing plate I6 provided in the other disclosures thus far described is eliminated. The insert itself is equipped with two collar-like constructions 26 and 21, or the insertA in other words is grooved. The collar constructions 26 and 21 are retained by the wall portion of the brush-back I and the inserts, of course, are manually or otherwise inserted into the construction and are 'capable of a ready 1disassembly and do not require the backing plate as set forth above.

, The modification set forth in Fig. 9 shows the same nozzle construction 1 as set forth above, having secured therein an agitator I2 secured and held in position in the nozzle proper by means of a spring clip I3 which is held by means of screws or rivets I1 into the wall of the nozzle. In this particular .modification the tubular portion 31 is integral with the brush-back I as shown and corresponds to the tubes 3 illustrated in the other figures of the drawings. The same mode of securing the nozzle and brush back together by means of elements 8, 9, and 9a, is likewise employed. Brush elements 2 are secured 40 within the slots and extend therein as shown by means of wire or other brush holding elements Il that are integrated or otherwiseJ secured to the brush-back I.

In the preferred embodiment and in the various modifications described, the inserts 3 are preferably made of rubber or any other highly resilient substance or other resilient construction to eliminate scratching surfaces oritearlng the fabric of furniture or the like. In the modification shown in.Fig. 9, the brush-back may be made entirely of rubber or it may be made of some light metal although the kind and variety of material is not particular to the individual invention.

The above is considered to set forth the gist of the invention so fully that anyone skilled in the art to which it pertains can by a reading and perusal offthe drawings takenfin connection with the specincation and description thereof build and produce the 4construction shown and described. p

That which is considered novel and useful and which it is desired to protect by Letters Patent of the United States Patent Omce is as follows:

We claim:

1. A suction tool that has in cross section the form of an elongated rectangle and is adapted for nozzle, an oblong brush holding plate detachably secured to and extending across the mouth of the nozzle,a series of substantiallycontinuous, v

straight, parallel rows of downwardly extending brush bristles in said plate arranged obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the brush holding plate, a series of elongated suction inlets extending through said plate and having their longest dimension extending between and in parallel relation to said rows of brush bristles, said rows of bristles extending substantially to the longitudinal edges of the brush holding plate and providing at said edges `unobstructed spaces between adjacent rows of bristles which communicate with the respective suction inlets, the foregoing construction being such that said rows of bristles direct toward said suction inlets the dust and dirt particles entering said spaces as said tool is moved to and fro transversely of its longest i dimension.

2. In a suction tool for use on a vacuum cleaner and adapted for bare floor cleaning, including: a nozzle whose mouth is substantially in the form of an elongated rectangle, a brush supporting plate substantially in the form of an elongated rectangle, detachably secured to said nozzle and fitted over said nozzle mouth, a series of substantially straight, continuous parallel rows oi" downwardly extending brush bristles attached to said brush supporting plate, said parallel rows being disposed obliquely and extending substantially al1 the way across said brush supporting plate, said brush supportingplate having a series of suction inlets therein arranged between said rows of brush bristles, rubber inlet tubes positioned in said suction inlets and extending below said plate, a retaining member adapted to engage the upper portions of said rubber tubes and clamp said rubber tubes against said brush supporting plate, said rows of parallel brush bristles being spaced to form passageways therebetween leading to the lower ends of said suction inlet tubes whereby as the suction tool is moved to and fro over a surface being cleaned dirt particles enter.-

` ing said passageways are urged by said oblique rows of bristles toward said suction inlets. y

` 3. A device as defined in claim 1, in which the rows of said brush bristles carried by one half of said oblong brush holding plate are disposed at substantiallyv 90 degrees to the rows of said brush bristles carried by the other half of said holdingplate, the rows of said brush bristles positioned on the central portion of said holding plate being arranged in the shape of a V with a suction inlet extending across the mouth thereof.

'4. A device as dened in claim l which includes tubesrof flexible material in said suction inlets, holding means comprising a pair of spaced apart collars arranged at one end of each of said tubes, said collars being adapted to receive sections .of said brush holding plate therebetween to hold said tubes in place on said plate.

DEWEY M. DOW. DONALD L. BOYD. FREDERICK H. BURBIEISTEB. 

